Vulcanizer for rubber soles to uppers



.Iune 18, 1929. F. NIELSEN VULCANIZER FOR RUBBER 'SOLES TO UPPERS Filed April 26, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet June 18, 1929. F. NIELSEN VULCA-NIZER FOR RUBBER SOLES TO UPPERS 5 Sheets-Shegt 2 f; n. 8 5w 1 H QEQF 1 l: 6 m m 2 V l m p A d m G; V I .9 if M min u June 18', 1929. F. NIELSEN v 1,718,174

VULCANIZER FOR RUBBERSQLES T0 urrn'ns" Filed April 26, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet f M a/s:

per-

Worny Junel8,l929. F EL EN f 1,718,174

VULC ANIZER FOR RUBBER SOLES TO UPPERS Filed April 26, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 18, 1929. Y

UNITED- STATES r 1,718,174 PATENT OFFICE.

rnanaan: NIELSEN, or mm, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW sou-m wannsausranm.

vunoam znnron Roxanna SOLES TO urrnns.

Application filed April '26, 1928. may... 273.107. m in Australia June 17, 1927..

This invention relates to improvements in machines for vulcanizing rubber soles to .tabrie uppers of boots or shoes."

lathe manufacture heretofore of. this class of' boot or shoe,-various methods have been adopted, one of which was to employ a flexible rubber bag on which the upper was mounted. By this method the upper presented an irregular shape, and when placed in position and the shoe mould closed, was

' obscured from view. Consequently any,

' creases, which frequently occur, cannot be smoothed out 'by inflating the bag; and the raw rubber'from which the sole isto be 1 formed frequently extends beyond the sole top ridge, adhering'to the sides of the upper and leaving an unsightly appearance.

It has also been, suggested topresent the boot or shoe to the sole mould upon the same 110 last as that on which it was first mounted for lasting and to apply internal heat to the boot or shoe for t tion. y It has further been proposed to place the 2 boot or shoe u )per with its insole secured thereto, upon the last of a vulcanizin machine,- with the up )er downwards an then reverse the last fllltl its attached upper, so as 1e purpose of vulcanizato bring the latter into engagement with the sole mould on the machine'before admitting steam to a vulcanizing chamber attached to the last.

The object ofthe present invention is to efi'ectimprovements in "ulcanizing machines of the latter type andparticularly to devise means whereby internal vulcanization is carried out more rapidly and effectively, and creasing of the upper is obviated.

The improved machine may have a single 40 vulcanizing lastand associated'parts, or a suitable number of lasts maybe grouped to form a unit. a

' The method of manufacture in the improved machine consists of a combination of two methods, namely:

, (1) The solutioning or securing of the shoe uppers to an insole on' a separate last,

as in hand made shoes, and accumulating them in readiness to be placed on a machine so last as soon as the same 1s vacant.

(2) The lacing of a sole of vuleanizable rubber on t e solutioned upper or the placing of sole rubber .in the open mould before the upper mounted on the machine last is lowered onto the mould and pressure and heat applied simultaneously to the internal vulcanizer last before vulcanization takes place.

According to the present invention I provide a vulcanizer having space provided therein for steam, which is supplied from an external source. such as a boiler, provision being made for the escape of the water of condensation. This vulcanizer is pivoted to a supporting frame or legs and is capable of water may be removed from one or both of the vulcanizers in their reversed position and if desired steam traps or other interceptor means may be provided.

The necessary pressure exerted by the lastupon the insole may be provided by screwed connections and/or levers between or on the top of the last, and the vulcanizer casting,

such as right and left hand threaded screws whereby the. desired pressure is obtained upon the rubber compound from winch the sole is to be made.

Internal vulcanization may also be accomplished by means of an electrically heated element of normal construction, and taking the place of the steam:

in the internal vulcanizer.

Pressure and heat is imparted from the combined internal vulcanizer and last by means of a metal insole which may be in two parts hinged to bridge the space between the led and fore part ofthe last. and is situated between the lower face of the internal vul-' canizer and the insole of the boot or shoe, heat being imparted through the canvas or other structure to the rubber forming the sole. Provision is also made whereby it is possible to detach or adjust the combined internal vulcanizer and last or any part there of without disconnecting its operatinglinks or mechanism. If desired the front part of the last may be detachable from the heel portion.

4 The necessary glands and stufiing boxes are rovided so as to permit free'movement of tie vulcan1zer.

Lever operated mechanism is provided for reversing the position of the combined internal vulcanizer and last apart from the reversing of the vulcanizer.

v ium particular thickness of solo. all that isnec-' Broadly speaking the last consists of three main parts, namely a movable heel part, a fore part, and a metal insole. Taken as a whole, it is a rigid non-flexible body. Its chief. functions are to carry the shoe structure, to convey heat whereby internal vulcanization may take place; and to act as a medium whereby pressure may be applied during vulcanization onto the rubber compound forming the sole.

The metal insole figuratively enters the cavity of the mould, when the final pressure has been applied to the last, but the last may be lowered still further in accordance with the quantity of vulcanizahle rubber placedjn the mould. The extent of variation is slightly less than the thickness of the metal insole.

If desired the metal insole may be made of thin steel plate, to the underside of which is attached a heavier gauge aluminplate. The steel date would he made an easy fit in mould cavity, and the aluminium plate a somewhat neat fit. The aluminium has the advantage that it will not cut the shoe structure, and if it is binding in places, it will slightly compress the first time, and always make'a perfect joint afterwards. The insole may be attached to the last so. as-to remain attached when the shoe structure is removed from the last.

Pressure is applied to the lever supporting thelast by means of an eccentric hand lever. This latter lever brings the last down into close contact with a vulcanizable sole with only a slight amount of exertion. A further and final pressure is applied by adjusting a right and left hand screw by means of a correspondingly screwed sleeve with an adjustable handle attachedthereto, until, the mould is observed to slightly open, indicat ing that it is full. lVben once the position of the handle has been determined for "a essary is to place the handle in that position in subsequent operations.

An eccentric hand lever on the last supporting lever has a safety detent adapted to engage a notch, to prevent. the hand lever from being accidentally knocked out of placoduring the application of pressure to the vulcanizer.

The vulcanizer is cast in one piece with suitable stay ribs, and is pivotally mounted upon a frameor support.

Steam is admitted=to both the vulcanizer body and the internal vulcanizer, through glands and shifting boxes, the purpose of which is to faciltate the turning of the re spective parts, through approximately 180 degrees to enable condensed steam to' drain away and-to facilitate'the placing of the shoe upon the last.

A locking pawl with a conveniently steam is consumed placed releaser lever has been aflixed on the stand. Its functions is to hold the rotatable vulcanizer and associatedparts rigid when not required to be revolved.

. A balance weight is placed in a suitable position on the vulcanizer so as to minimize the normal exertion'required in revolving the same.

The vulcanizer body may be suitably insulated, the only exposed part being the upper surface or hot plate. Consequently practically only during vulcanization.

Mould plates which are slidable, rest on the hot plate of the vulcanizer and are built up in sets according to'sizes'of boots or shoes desired to be made. In cool climates the moulds may be steam jacketed. 0 each mould plate a steel plate is secured so as to overhang the edge of themould and make a close joint all around the "shoe upper. A metal sole plate is provided to form the bottom of the mould. I

But in order thatthe invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made. to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of the left'hand Figure 3 is a part and elevational view of.

the machine-shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a side view sh'owingthe vulcanizer and its associated parts reversed upon its pivot to permit the water of condensation to drain out.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the sliding mould plates showing the racks and pinions by which they are opened and closed.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a plan view of a sole plate adapted to impart configuration to the sole while it is in the mould.

Figure 8 is a detail view showing the means for locking the vulcanizer and associated parts against rotation, on its pivots.

Figure 9 is an elevational view'partly in section showing the internal vulcanizer last view showing the toe end of the last, in asso ciation with the mould. v

Figure 12 is an elevation on an enlarged scale showing a universally pivoted link for connecting a hand lever with quadrants for operating the moulds.

The vulcanizer 15 with its associated parts is mounted in bearings 16 on the machine frame 17. This frame may be extended to take as many vulcanizer units as desired.

50 rod 42 to a foot lever 43. also pivoted to the The whole of the operating parts are carried by the vulcanizer and are rotatable therewith as indicated in Figure 4.

4 andclamps it betweentwo nuts 22.

The steam is admitted to the vulcahizer through one bearing, stufiing boxes-- 18 of ordinary construction being provided be tween the fixed and the rotating parts" of the bearings. A balance, weight 19 is pro; vided so that the machine will-turn evenly" upon itsbearings. y

The vulcanizer has a'nextensiomat the rear thereof to which is adjustably secured a vertical member 20, the adjustability beingefl'ected. by a pivoted arm 21 which passes through the end of the member Theilast supporting lever 25 :is'held during vulcanization by an eccentric hand lever 29 which has a safety 'detent 30 -engaging a 'notch in the lever 25 andis loekedby a spring pressed catch 31;; The eccentric hand lever 29 applies. pressure tojthe last supporting lever 25 and-brings the last down final adjustmentbeing effected by -right and left hand screws 32, 33, :and a correspondhan e 34;;

To the lower end of the arm 24; one end of a coiled. spring 35 is secured',the'other end. of the spring being anchored to a bracket 36 projecting-from the bottom of the vulcamzer body-15. 1 a

The lower end of the arm 24 has. also canizer 15. This rod 37 'carries anadjustable flanged'collarl39 adapted to beenga'ged by a bell crank lever 40 pivoted u n a bracket 41. forming part-of the machmeframe 17. The bell crank lever 40 is. connected by a machine frame 17.

, The action of the spring the arm 24,tends to raise the last supportinglever 25 clear 'of'th'e mould when the latteris not held down by the eccentric hand lever 29. The 'foot lever 43 bell crank lever 40, and the rod 37 serve to take the load off the sprin-g,-and-enable the last {supporting lever and its associated parts to descend by their 6 own; weight and allow the eccentric hand lever 29 to be placed in sition.

, Thevulcani'zer 15 and its associated arts ereca'pable of being reversed u n the rmgs 16f W1tl1 the assistance of e hand lever w it-h a catch 46 pivoted'on the When it is'fdesiredf to reverse the vulcanizer -ure 9 is hollowed to receive. is an extension 54 to which-the movable heel gl screwed sleeve with .an. adjustable 29,'anda handle 44 but is normally held in theposition shown in Figure 1 by the engagement of a stop 45 on the vulcamzer frame 17.

uponits bearings to 'thefpositionshown in Figure 4 the catch 46 is removed frointhe .stop 45 by means of'airod 47 and hand lever 48.

' 'A combined internal vuleanizer and last,

see Figures 9 and 10 is pivoted to thelastsupporting lever 25 and is maintained in an approximately level position by a slotted link 49,.spr'ing 57 and-a coupling rod 50. The combined internal vulcanizer and'last consists of a movable heel part 51, afore part 52 and a metal insole 53.

The fore part of the last as ehown in Figteam and has part is pivoted. The said heel part 51 is under the action of a spring 55 when folded 1 up; and is'adapted to be extended by a hand lever 56. The metal insole 53 which may be made of hinged parts as shown in Figure 10 is placed between the'last and the insole oftheshoc. The metal insole 53 serves the 'purp'osesof permitting a variable parallel- ..movement of the last, bridging-the gap between the heel part and the .fore part, and of evenly distributing, heat and pressure to the nsole of the shoe. mto closecontact with the vulcanizable sole,

theupper surfaceor hot plate of the vulcanizer 15 and are made in sizes to suit the work in hand. To the mould plates 58 a steel plate 59 issecured. This slightly overhangs the edge of the mould plates 58 and makes a close point all'round the shoe up per and against a metal insole 53. A metal Mould plates for shaping thesolerest on G7 pivoted to' an arm 68 extending from the vulcanizer 15, and having a stop 69 for engagement by apa-wl 70 'on the hand lever 67. The bearings 71 are split and the moulds maybe changed by removing all top gearsin one piece. A universally pivoted link 72 is rovided tov connect the hand lever 67' wit .one of the toothed quadrants such as a pull 0 erated lever 73 and cord is provided. he uppers of the boots or To enable the last supporting lever 25-and shoes to be soled are made in the usual way andha-ve an insole secured thereto by rubber solutioinfor other approved means to form "what 'I will call "a" sl1 oe;b()tly.-'-.-" I he not previouslyl-attaehed tothe last .is' ins ed int-lie slioebodysothat the latteris r ad f Qplaciiig'uponfthela tl In con'nnem-iiig" the operation of vulcan izi-ng a sole upon the'shoe'body, th'e and its supporting hrm are turned through approximately 180 from .the position shown in Figure l, b v"-1neans of the pulloperated lever 73, the cord 26 serving to steady the lever '25 on.meltsixlemf'tlic dead i-ennt.w- \Vh'en the lastis in the position just doscribed a shoe. body is placed thereon, the

pull operated lever is again operated to bring the shoe bodv into position a'hovethe ..Y-- v g 1;. l ineuously closed andhlled mould 08.

The foot lever 43 is depressed allowing the, last supporting lever 25 and last to descend by their own weight'so that the inner sole. engages with the rubber compound from which the sole isto he i'ornieill" The hand lever 29 is placed inpositionand linal pressure applied byimeans'of the screwed ha'n die 31-. y I

The lever 48 is"no'w operated to release the catch 46 from the stop 45 and permit the reversal of the machine upon it" bearings 16 into the vulcanizing positiomwhen steam is admitted to the internal vulcanizer, see Figure 4. During vulcanization water' of condensation can pass away from the vulcanizer 15, and the last, owing to bot-hbeing in a reversed position. The inlet and out let of steam to the vulcanizer 14 is effected through the stalling boxes 18 in the pivot bearings 16. A stuffing box. 74' is also owned on the-hollow pivot 23 to enable steam to be conducted to the last 52. The inlet and discharge sports for theylast are indicated in F igure9 by the numerals 75 and 76. v 'E a After vulcanization the machine -is returned to the position shown -in- Figure 1 whereupon the shoe is removed and themachine left ready-"foreajfresh operation,-

Iclaim: 1. In a vulcanizing machine of the kind described, the combination wit-h a horizon tally pivoted vulcanizer, of a heated-last, moulds or useigtherewith' and means for bringing said last and moulds into position for simultaneous vulcanization inside and 7 outside t he shoe. I

- 2. In avulcanizing machine of the kind described, the=eombinat1on with a vulcan- 'izer horizontally-pivoted to the machine .througlrapproximately 180, moulds for use withfsaiddast,and means for opening and closing said: moulds.

'3. In a vulcanizing machine of the kind described, the combination witha vulcanizer, of a metal insole, an Internal vulcanlzing last, moulds for use therewith and means for reversing thepos'itions of the said:

vuleanizer and last to remove water of condensation therefrom.

4. In a 'vulcanizing machine of the kind described, the combination with a horizontally pivoted" vul-anizer, of a heatedlast mounted upon a'last supporting lever capable of being turned through approximately 180,an eccentric hand lever and right and left hand serews and handle for applying downward pressure to said last supporting, lever, moulds for use with the last, and means for opening and closing the moulds.

5. ln a vul'eanizing machine of the kind described the combination with a horizom tally pivoted vulcanizer, of a heated last mounted ppon a last supporting lever, a

coiled spring and arm for supporting said lastsupporting'leve-r, and means for operating the arm against the action of the coiled spring so as to permit thelast supaorting lever and associated parts to desce'n under their own weight, moulds for use'with the last, and means for opening and closingthe moulds.

6. In a vulcanizing machine of the kind described, the combination with a horizontally pivoted vuleanizer, of a heated last mounted upon a last supporting lever, a. coiled spring and arm for supporting the last supporting lover, a. sliding rod conneeted to said arm and having a flan ed collar adapted to be engaged, by who 1' crank leverg'a rodand'foot lever for operating the bell crank lever to operate the arm against the action ofthe coiled spring so as to permit the last supporting lever and associated parts todeseend under their own weight, moulds for -use with the last, and means tor opening and closing the moulds. g

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand."

y FREDERIKNIELSEN. 

